Rotary tube cleaner



May 25, 1954 v. H. BAKER ROTARY TUBE CLEANER Filed Aug. 31, 1949 lnvenclor Emma?! Gttorneu M w T w 15 K Wm M 3 0 4 m L Patented May 25, 1954 UNITED s'rAr ROTARY TUBE CLEANER Virgil H. Baker, Springfield, Ohio, assignor to Elliott Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 31, 1949, Serial No. 113,431

1 Claim. 1

mechanisms, and more particularly to flexible mechanisms employing a flowing fluid, such as water, for flushing and cooling purposes.

One class of machine to which the invention is applicable is a rotary tube cleaner, comprising a relatively stationary motor and a rotary tool to be inserted in a tube to be cleaned, the tool being operatively connected to the motor by a flexible shaft. In the use of such apparatus it is necessary to contend with at least two factors restricting the ease and speed with which a job may be completed. Firstly, the speed and friction of the tool as it cuts its way through the scale and deposits on the tube generates excessive heat which is detrimental both to the tube and tool. Secondly, there is a tendency for the cuttings to dam up in front of the tool, impeding its passage through the tube. The latter is particularly true in the cleaning of horizontal tubes where no opportunity is afforded the cuttings to drop from the tube by gravity. As a result it has heretofore been the practice to interrupt operation of the tool at intervals to allow time for cooling and in the same or other intervals to withdraw the tool and direct a jet of flushing water through the tube.

The object of the invention is to simplify the construction as well as the means and mode of operation of power transmission mechanisms as disclosed herein, whereby such mechanism may not only be economically manufactured, but will be more efficient and accurate in use, adaptable to a wide variety of work, having relatively few parts and be unlikely to get out of repair.

While, as will clearly appear from the disclosure to follow, the instant invention may have broader objects and characteristics, one object thereof is to enable tube cleaning to be accomplished in a continuous operation, obviating the difliculties noted above.

Another object of the invention is to carry on a continuous cooling and flushing action in accompaniment with progress of a cutting tool through a tube.

A further object of the invention is to enable a fluid for any purpose or combination of purposes, for example cooling, flushing, washing or disinfecting to be supplied in conjunction with a tube cleaning operation.

Still another object of the invention is to simplify the manner of supplying a fluid in an operation of the kind described so that the operator will be relieved of any duty other than that of guiding the tool through the work.

A still further object of the invention is to preserve the customary appearance and mode of use and handling of a tube cleaner or the like by combining the flexible shaft and the fluid flowing conduit into a single unitary connection between the motor and the tool.

Still another object of the invention is to provide for continuous removal of cut particles from a tube or like device being bored or cleaned.

A. further object of the invention is to provide a tube cleaner in which high speed operation may be efliciently and satisfactorily used.

A further object of the invention is to provide tube cleaning equipment of the type described in which centrifugally expanded tools may be utilized.

A further object of the invention is to reduce the amount of dust usually surrounding tube cleaning operations.

A further object of the invention is to provide a power transmission mechanism possessing the advantageous structural features, the inherent meritorious characteristics and the mode of operation herein mentioned. I

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected by letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, as hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or their equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, wherein is found the preferred but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of tube clean This invention as disclosed is embodied in a rotary tube cleaner, and may comprise, as shown in Fig. 1, a stand [0 upon which is mounted an electric motor H. A conductor [2, leading from a suitable source of electrical energy, supplies power for operation of the motor.

Mounted upa on one end of the motor ll is a housing 53, to be more particularly described, in which is established a connection between the motor and a flexible power transmission assembly i i terminating at its outer end in a rotary tool iii. The assembly It and tool is may normally be suspended upon a hanger bracket i6 upon stand iii. In use, the tool is lifted from the hanger bracket and inserted in a tube to be cleaned. As operation of the motor drives the tool, the assembly it may be manually fed through the work.

Considering the power transmission between the motor ii and tool E in greater detail, and referring to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be observed that the housing i3 has a flange ll whereby the hous'- ing may be bolted or otherwise secured to the motor. There is a trough longitudinal bore it in the housing and counterbores it and in the opposite ends thereof. Counterbore 59 receives one end of the flexible assembly Counterbore 25 has a seal-bearing 22 therein through which is passed the projecting end of a power input shaft 23 which is or may be the rotor shaft of the motor ii. shaft 23 is hollow and has mounted therein a stub shaft 2 A milled flat 25 extends over a part of the length of stub shaft 24, such portion being overlaid by a cross pin 26 transversely mounted in the shaft 23. The construction and arrangement of parts accordingly is such that the stub shaft 2 3 is connected to the power input shaft 2? for rotary motion therewith, relative axial motion of the stub shaft being permitted so that a variety of initial positions of adjustment may be achieved.

The inner end of the stub shaft 2d has a tapped opening receiving a scr w stud 2i integrally formed on a cartridge cap 28. Between the flat 325 and the tapped opening in the end thereof, the shaft 2 i is formed with a circumferential groove mounting a ring seal 29 which is expansible against the inner wall of shaft 23. The cartridge cap 2% lies substantially within bore 58 and receives one end of a wound flexible shaft or core 3!. The shaft or core 3! is secured, as by welding, to the cap 28 and so partakes of the to which it is attached in a manner similar to the attachment to cap 28. The cap to, however, has a frusto-conical shape and the relatively broad base thereof being adjacent the projecting inner end of a connector element til. The element 3? is formed with a head portion lying outide the fitting 32 and with a stem portion having a bearing in a bushing 3% mounted in the counterbore 34 with a press fit. A screw threaded central opening 39 in the connector element 37 receives at its inner end a screw stud ll on cap 36 and at its outer end a suitably formed shank on the tool l5. Accordingly, a tool such as tool l5, when installed in connector element 3'1", is operatively connected to the fiexible shaft Si and is rotatively driven thereby.

Surrounding stud ii and clamped intermediate cap and connector 3'! is a thrust bearing it, which during operation bears upon the adjacent end of bushing 38 to resist longitudinal thrust of the shaft 3! within fitting 32. Completing the transmission assembly I 4 is a flexible casing or conduit 42 made of a rubber or rubber-like material. The conduit 42 is in surrounding, spaced relation to the flexible shaft 3|. The opposite ends thereof enter and are seated in counterbores i9 and 35 in housing l3 and fitting 32 respectively. Within counterbore [9, the conduit :2 has a press fit in a sleeve 43 having a flange M at its inner end bearing against a gasket 15. A bushing 46 is screw threaded into the counterbore l9 and holds flange M1 and gasket 45 against a seat in the bottom of the counterbore. The opposite end of the conduit l2 has a press fit and a relatively long bearing in fitting 32. lhe end of the conduit bottom within counterbore 35, with the inside diameter of the conduit substantially registering with the bore 33.

The conduit 42 provides a passageway for the flow of fluid from housing E3 to fitting 32. It will be noted that the mounting thereof is such as to inhibit leakage around the ends of the conduit and to effect a secure connection while allowing a minimum of abrasive action due to fiexure.

A flow or circulation of fluid through the conduit 12 is provided by reason of lateral opening M in housing i3 and longitudinal peripheral slots as in bushing 38 mounted in the outer end of fitting 32. Opening ll communicates with bore iii, while slots at communicate with counter bore 35 and thereby with bore 33. In the illustrative embodiment of the invention, the direction of fluid flow is from the housing 13 to the fitting and the fluid used is water. Thus, water is g supplied to the opening Lil by a conduit d9 (Fig.

1) leading from a suitable source of water under pressure. From inlet opening t? the water enters boreit passes from there into conduit 82. Flow rearwardly in the housing toward motor ll prevented by seals 22 and 29. Within conduit in, the water is conducted in surrounding relation to the shaft Bl to fitting 32. In fitting 32, the water passes through bore 33 into counterbore 3 and is discharged from the fitting, in jets radially spaced from and parallel to the axis of the fitting, by way of slots id. The discharged fluid flows in intimate contacting relation to the tool 15, exerting a cleaning, cooling action as well as flushing away the cut material, In addition to these functions, the water provides a means of continuously lubricating the various bearing points in the transmission. It will be understood that the flow of water, in the present instance, is under suitable valve control in the line it.

It will further be understood that the direction of fluid flow may be reversed under appropriate conditions and that fluids other than water may be used, as well as water with which a detergent or disinfectant or the like has been mixed.

The present liquid cooled construction permits relatively high operating speeds for the cutter or tool E 5. An inherent disadvantage of prior motor driven tube cleaners is the necessity of reducing the operating speed because of excessive heat generation. Because of heat generation the prior motor operated cleaners are operated at such low speeds that centrifugally operated expensible cutters cannot be used. Special spring expanded cutters or tools have therefore been necessary. Not only are the spring expanded cutters inefficient per se and a cause of trouble, but the operating speed is so low that the overall efiiciency of the unit is greatly reduced.

The present liquid cooled construction permits high speed operation comparable to air operated units, thereby permitting the use of centrifugally expanded cutters. The complicated and objectionable' spring biased cutters are thereby eliminated, and the operating speed of the unit raised well within the range of efiicient operation, wherein the cutters will function most satisfactorily. The obstacle to such efiicient operation which has heretofore been encountered, namely, excessive heat generation, has however been completely removed, thereby preventing injury to either the cleaning equipment or the tubes being cleaned. The liquid coolant and lubricant further serves to reduce the dust hazard and its detrimental effects upon the operator and surrounding machinery.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

Rotary tube cleaning or like apparatus, includ ing a rotary motor having a tubular drive shaft projecting from one end thereof, an adapter housing secured to said motor and having a longitudinal bore, one end of which receives said drive shaft, a flexible shaft entering said bore through the opposite end thereof; means operatively con necting said flexible shaft to said drive shaft, including a stub shaft received in said drive shaft, a rotary tool mounted on the outer free end or" said flexible shaft, a flexible conduit having its one end seated in said housing in surroundrelation to said flexible shaft and extending in sirn r relation substantially throughout the l:- n of said flexible shaft, the opposite end of conduit opening adjacent said rotary tool, a iiuid inlet in said housing opening into said longitudinal bore, and sealing means restricting fluid flow reawrardly along said drive shaft, including a bearing in said housing in which said drive shaft is mounted and a ring seal surrounding said stub shaft Within said drive shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,844,920 Schilow Nov. 19, 1912 1,8"!1,798 King Aug. 16, 1932 2,063,205 Sutfin et al. Dec. 8, 1936 2,090,174 Albright Aug. 17, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 369,063 Germany Feb. 14, 1923 

